Page 100 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

than a lack of spectrum. Public complaints on social media had said: ‘This disruption has nothing to do with Algeria’s national
accumulated particularly on the pages of state-backed Algerie telecommunications network or its basic facilities; it is rather a
Telecom, which manages fiber-optic submarine/terrestrial cross- fluctuation of the international network.’
border cable links. In a statement on 20 August Algerie Telecom (August 27, 2020) Agence Ecofin

Bahrain

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain has Ahmed Al-Abbasi as members for a four-year term, said a
issued Royal Decree restructuring the Board of Directors of the Bahrain News Agency report. The Prime Minister shall implement
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Chaired by Eng. the provisions of the Royal Decree, which takes immediate effect
Mariam Ahmed Jamaan, the new board shall comprise Brigadier and will be published in the Official Gazette, it said.
General Eng Mohammed Abdullatif Al-Mahmoud, Khalid Ibrahim (August 17, 2020) tradearabia.com
Humaidan, Shaikh Salman bin Mohammad Al Khalifa and Amal

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) adequate spectrum so that clients can avail proper service, saying
Chairman Jahurul Haque said that standard telecom service for "We are always welcoming the operators." The Commission can't
mobile users cannot be ensured without adequate spectrum. reduce the price of spectrum as it is a government decision,
Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association organized the he stated, urging them to sit for more dialogue over the matter,
program virtually where the BTRC chief was the Chief Guest. It reports UNB. Meanwhile, different mobile operators including
is undeniable that operators face a shortage of spectrum, Haque Robi, sought government incentives centering spectrum, price of
said, adding that "Desired telecom service can't be provided optical fiber, and tax to enhance quality of service.
with shortage of spectrum" He requested operators to acquire (July 26, 2020) thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Egypt

The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has issued a Cairo and areas in east and west Alexandria. Regarding Etisalat,
report on the quality of voice and internet services provided by the quality of its voice services was tested in 81 areas, and
mobile operators during June in Egypt. The quality tests were quality problems were detected in 22 regions, including Obour,
conducted at nearly 81 cities and neighborhoods, covering nearly Al-Rehab, Nasr City, Hadayek Al-Kobba, Maadi, and Mokattam in
27,000 km of populated areas. According to the report, Vodafone Cairo, and the 6th of October in Giza. In terms of blocked calls, the
performed best among the four mobile companies in Egypt in NTRA report monitored five affected regions, mainly Obour and
terms of voice service quality. The examination covered 81 areas, Mokattam in Cairo. The report also examined the voice services in
of which only 14 faced problems in initiating calls, including Nasr WE network at 81 regions, of which 45 regions suffered problems
and Obour cities. In terms of blocked calls at Vodafone network, in initiating calls. They included Obour, Rehab, Shorouk, the Fifth
eight regions were affected, the most important of which were Settlement, Heliopolis, Nasr City, Al-Marg, Al-Salam, Abbasiya,
in Cairo and Shubra al-Khaymah. In terms of the voice service Manial, Shubra, Shubra Al-Khaimah, Zamalek, Helwan, Maadi, and
quality, six regions faced quality problems, mainly in Nasr City, Mokattam in Cairo, and the 6th of October in Giza, and Alexandria.
Obour, and west Alexandria. As for Orange, voice calls in 25 The report also tested the quality of mobile internet services at
areas found problems going through, including Obour, Nasr City, the four companies, in which Orange topped the charts in 59
Salam, Helwan, and Mokattam in Cairo; the 6th of October in regions with an average speed of 32 Mbps. WE mastered in nine
Giza; Alexandria, Matrouh, and North Coast. In terms of the voice regions with an average speed of 27 Mbps. Etisalat came third as
service quality, right regions faced difficulties, mainly in Shubra in it outperformed in eight areas with an average speed of 26 Mbps,

100 AUGUST 2020